The historic Rock Hill Presbyterian Church at Manchester and McKnight roads might have a prayer of surviving a planned U-Gas development for that corner.

The Rock Hill Planning and Zoning Commission on Wednesday (July 6) approved a site plan by a vote of 6 to 0. Planning Commissioner Art Korte abstained.

The plan would allow development of a 24-hour, 4,500-square-foot Phillips 66 gas station, convenience store and car wash on the two-acre site at the northeast corner of Manchester and McKnight roads.

Approval is contingent on several factors, including a six-month moratorium on tearing down the church.

During that six month period, U-Gas must continue efforts to relocate all of part of the building to another location in Rock Hill or elsewhere.

If relocation is not possible within six months, the city would be given 30 days notice to try to save all or parts of the church.

The Fairfax House, built about 1840, also sits on the property. U-Gas has agreed to move the house to another location on the property.

The approval allows U-Gas to apply for building permits so construction can start, probably no sooner than three months from now. Because the property is already zoned commercial, the proposal doesn't need aldermanic approval.

The church closed about a year ago and the Presbytery of Giddings Lovejoy put the property up for sale. Paul Taylor, father of U-Gas President and CEO Craig Taylor, had been among the many congregants.

Korte said he abstained from voting because he's "ethically opposed to taking one of the most historical intersections, perhaps in all St. Louis County, for a gas station. It is not like drivers on Manchester Road have a hard time finding gas."

In the three miles of Manchester from Big Bend Boulevard to Berry Road, there are five gas stations and a car wash, Korte said.

Judy Leach, owner of Leach BP Service Station at 9720 Manchester Road, said she wasn't just opposed to potential competition, but was concerned about "environmental issues that do not seem to be getting the proper review."

She said no studies of traffic patterns, parking availability and other issues have been submitted for the project.

"If, indeed, the historic church must go, anything that replaces it should be very carefully studied to ensure Rock Hill isn't grabbing at straws in these turbulent economic times to the detriment of the environment," she said.

The Rev. Harold Schnedler, pastor of the church from 1981 to 1990, pleaded for preservation of the original limestone building.

the church was built by the slaves of James Marshall, who also built the Fairfax House. Marshall later named a new post office Rock Hill after the church, and finally the city took on the name.

"To tear down the church is to sever ties with the oldest history this city has, and, once it's gone, it can't be replaced," Schnedler said.

Resident Phil Shoulberg said the church is one of few in the area this old. Until the 1960s, the church had a cemetery attached to it where some of Shoulberg's ancestors were buried. The graves were moved to Oak Hill Cemetery in Kirkwood.

"To me, it's hallowed ground," he said.

Ryan Reed, with the Landmarks Association of St. Louis, opposed the demolition of the church or relocation of that building or Fairfax House.

He called both buildings "the soul and identity of this community, the oldest tangible pieces of collective history here."

Taylor said the planned development calls for, after the demolition or removal of the church, a plaza on the site of the church with a historical marker, possibly including stones from the church, and a picnic area.

U-Gas has been trying to find a home for the church, said Bill Biermann, an attorney representing U-Gas. Company officials had hoped to relocated the church to Faust County Park's historic village, but the plan was rejected, he said.

Biermann said a person, whom he would not name, is interested in preserving the limestone blocks, "but I can't say he'll rebuild the church somewhere else as it looks today. And another individual with a local museum is interested in displaying elements of the church such as pews and windows."